Utility platform



P 19, 1967 w. 1 w'lLhJAMs ETAL 3,342,287

UTILITY PLATFORM Filed Feb. 5, 1966 I NVENTORS h//& 4 A444 4 W/LL /A M3W4 YBUP/V D. DOWNS United States Patent 3,342,287 UTILITY PLATFORMWilliam L. Williams, 5074 Mt. Durban Drive 92117, and Wayburn D. Downs,1205 Grand Ave. 92109, both of San Diego, Calif.

Filed Feb. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 524,680 2 Claims. (Cl. 18215) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A four-legged dolly on casters having a hingedly attachedplatform on one end thereof with two legs which are shorter than thelegs of the dolly and the casters combined, and a utility shelftelescopically mounted above the dolly and utility platform so that auser can stand on the back platform which will secure its legs to thefloor preventing rolling of the platform while utilizing the utilityshelf for any desired purpose.

The present invention relates to a utility platform and moreparticularly to a utility platform for securely supporting a user duringits utilization.

According the the invention, a utility shelf is carried by -a dollywhich rests on a plurality of casters. A supporting surface is attachedto one end of the dolly and extends therefrom. The supporting surfacepreferably has a plurality of supporting legs at its end furthest fromthe dolly which preferably terminate in a non-skid extremity such asrubber or plastic. The supporting surface is preferably hingedlyattached to the dolly for conveniently reducing the size of the entireunit during storage for example, and facilitating easy movement betweenuses. During its actual utilization, the user stands or sits upon thesupporting surface with the work resting on the utility shelf. The typeof use contemplated would include painting, e.g., the utility shelfcould hold painting equipment and the painter could stand or sit on thesupporting surface. Another contemplated use would be that of stockingitems in a market. Here the box of goods being stocked would be placedupon the utility shelf and the stocker could sit or stand depending uponthe height of the shelves being stocked. The center of gravity of theentire unit is located for removing the supporting surface legs fromcontact with the surface on which the entire unit rests when the user isnot standing or sitting on the supporting surface, and bringing thesupporting legs into contact with the surface on which the entire unitrests when the user is standing or sitting on the supporting surface.This insures easy movement when the unit is not actually in use and asecure positioning when the unit is in use. Other novel features includea telescoping support for the utility shelf and tilt coupling betweenthe utility shelf and the telescoping support.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a utilityplatform which carries the user securely during utilization thereof.

Another object is to provide a utility platform which is versatile andcan be conveniently adjusted for various heights of work.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a utility platformwhich can be conveniently stored when not in use.

Still another object is to provide a utility platfonm which is easilymovable between uses.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a utilityplatform which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and requires aminimum of training for use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection witl the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereo: and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodi ment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partially sectioned, 01 a portion ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partially exploded view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1; and 7 FIG. 4 is another side elevation view of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, utility shelf 11 is carried by supporting rod 12.Supporting rod 12 is telescopically carried by mounting cylinder 13which is telescopically carried by supporting cylinder 14. Supportingcylinder 14 is fixedly attached to top surface 16 of dolly 17. Dolly 17has legs 18 which terminate in casters 19.

Supporting surface 21 is hingedly attached to supporting members 22 andextends between supporting cylinder 14 and front edge 23. Front edge 23is supported by legs 24 which are hingedly attached at 30 (FIG. 3) andhave supporting member 27 connecting them. Supporting legs 24 terminatein non-skid portions 26 preferably constructed of a non-skid rubber orplastic.

Referring to FIG. 2, supporting rod 12 again is telescopically receivedby mounting cylinder 13 and rests on compression spring 28.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, utility shelf 11 is attached to support rod12. Supporting rod 12 again is telescopically received by mountingcylinder 13 which in turn is telescopically received by supportingcylinder 14. Rotata-ble handle 20 has a threaded extension (not shown)which is threadably received by an aperture (not shown) in flange 25 andis utilized for locking supporting rod 12 with respect to mountingcylinder 13. Supporting surface 21 is hingedly attached to supportinglegs 24 at 30. Locking bracket 31 locks supporting surface 21 tosupporting leg 24. Supporting surface 21 is also hingedly attached tosupporting member 22 at 32 and rests on resilient grommet 33 which isattached to supporting member 22.

OPERATION Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 collectively, and assuming, forexample, that the entire unit is utilized to assist in stocking shelvesin a supermarket, the box of items such as canned goods to be stocked isplaced on utility shelf 11. The user can then stand or sit on supportingsurface 21 depending upon the height of the shelf being stocked.Supporting rod 12 being telescopically and adjusta'bly received withinmounting cylinder 13 and adjusted to a convenient height again dependingupon the height of the shelf being stocked. When it is desired to movethe unit to a different location, the user simply gets off supportingsurface 21 and supporting legs 24 will then raise off the floor allowingthe unit to be wheeled by casters 19 to the next location.

A further feature of the instant invention as especially illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 is U-shaped bracket 15 which is slideably received by alower cavity underneath utility shelf 11. This is primarily for thepurpose of accommodating clip boards, inventory pads, etc.

In between uses, supporting surface 21 can be conveniently folded up asshown in FIG. 4, and if desired, supporting rod 12 can be containedcompletely within mounting cylinder 13, minimizing storage bulk.

Should the unit be desired for purposes of taking in- Ventory, theinventory taker can simply again sit or stand on supporting surface 21and place utility shelf 11 in any convenient position for the placementthereon for inventory tabulating sheets. Utility shelf 11 has a slidingshelf 10 which is primarily for the purpose of a running inventory orcheck-01f list at the time of stocking goods.

Another contemplated use would be the utilization of the unit as apainters platform. Here the container of paint would be placed onutility shelf 11 and the painter again would stand or sit on supportingsurface 21, depending upon the height of the area being painted.

Referring to FIG. 2, a coil spring 28 is shown contained within mountingcylinder 13 for receiving supporting rod 12. This obviates thepossibility of any sudden impact when handle 20 is loosened more easilyfacilitating the raising and lowering of supporting rod 12 withingmounting cylinder 13. As shown in FIG. 3, mounting cylinder 13 can becompletely removed from supporting cylinder 14 for shipping and storage.If desired, utility shelf 11 can be pivotally attached to supporting rod12 for the convenience of a user such as an inventory taker.

It should be understood of course that the foregoing disclosure relatesto only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intendedto cover all changes and modifications of the example of the inventionherein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitutedepartures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A utility platform comprising:

a dolly having at least three supporting legs, each of said supportinglegs terminating in a caster;

a supporting surface mechanically coupled and extending from one end ofsaid dolly, said supporting surface terminating away from said dolly inat least one supporting leg, said supporting surfaces at least onesupporting leg being dimensioned to be clear of any resting surface onwhich said at least three supporting legs rest; and

a utility shelf carried by said dolly and extending above saidsupporting surface, whereby upon users standing or sitting upon saidsupporting surface said at least one supporting leg will contact saidresting surface securing said utility platform in a fixed positionrelative thereto.

2. The utility platform claim 1 wherein said supporting surface ishingedly attached to said dolly and latchable thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,078 11/ 1940 Kroeger182-129 2,989,139 6/1961 Pantek 18215 3,150,743 9/ 1964 Kirchoefer182129 3,207,261 9/ 1965 Petersen 182-120 REINALDO P. MACHADO, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A UTILITY PLATFORM COMPRISING: A DOLLY HAVING AT LEAST THREESUPPORTING LEGS, EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING LEGS TERMINATING IN A CASTER, ASUPPORTING SURFACE MECHANICALLY COUPLED AND EXTENDING FROM ONE END OFSAID DOLLY, SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE TERMINATING AWAY FROM SAID DOLLY INAT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING LEG, SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE''S AT LEAST ONESUPPORTING LEG BEING DEMENSIONED TO BE CLEAR OF ANY RESTING SURFACE ONWHICH SAID AT LEAST THREE SUPPORTING LEGS REST; AND A UTILITY SHELFCARRIED BY SAID DOLLY AND EXTENDING ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE,WHEREBY UPON USER''S STANDING OR SITTING UPON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACESAID AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING LEG WILL CONTACT SAID RESTING SURFACESECURING SAID UTILITY PLATFORM IN A FIXED POSITION RELATIVE THERETO.